Written By: Prince William County

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors recently recognized the week of April 11-17, 2021, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Very often, the first contact people have with the County in cases of emergency is when they call 9-1-1 and get a public safety telecommunicator on the line.

Emergencies require a prompt response from law enforcement and/or Fire and Rescue. The public safety telecommunicators stand ready to provide emergency instructions and life safety instructions, as well as moral support to distressed callers, while field responders and equipment are being dispatched and responding to the scene.

Telecommunicators must do their jobs with compassion, understanding and professionalism, under pressure, when answering calls from people who are having the worst day of their lives. Telecommunicators contribute substantially to apprehending criminals, fire suppression and patient treatment.

Since 1991, the U.S. Congress has proclaimed the second full week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to recognize the contributions telecommunicators make to their communities.

In recognizing the week, the Board joined in honoring the women and men whose diligence keeps the County and its citizens safe.